The Bag Lady just looked at the calendar and realized there are exactly three weeks until Christmas. She finds it hard to believe how fast the time is slipping away. She has it easy this year, though, because her sister-in-law is hosting the family for Christmas this year, and another sister-in-law always hosts the family for New Year's Day. The Bag Lady may not even decorate her house...well, she probably will, because she always has before, but she won't do very much. Probably just a small tree with a few ornaments. Somehow, without having to make a big dinner and have a large group of people in the house, it doesn't really feel like Christmas.
With the Cowboy's work schedule, the Bag Lady doesn't see a lot of visitors.
What about the rest of you? Do you host big Christmas parties? Do huge amounts of baking? Do you always go to grandma's house for Christmas Eve? What are your traditions?
12 comments:
It gets a tad complicated around here.
My side of the family does Hanukkah. Usually a cousin hosts the family party and we do a tacky gift exchange. Tacky in this instance means cheap and silly untagged gifts.
My ex's cousin usually does Christmas and I'm always included in those plans, just as he is in my family get-togethers (we're among the lucky ones that still get along great as friends).
Generally Christmas eve is spent at my house, with my kidlets and more often than not, my ex.
Both holidays have crept up on my awfully fast and I feel totally unprepared for both.
New Year's Eve has recently spawned a new tradition. The neighbous get together at one house and share an enormous meal together. We each bring a couple of yummy platters, casseroles or salads and party on with good friends.
Anyway.. Happy Chistmakkah!
I haven't got a clue what to do for Christmas this year. Likely nothing. In the past I've celebrated Winter Solstice as it frees up the big day for Mike to go to his mom's for Christmas Day.
Our tradition is to spend a Christmas celebation with our friends Bob and Sylvia and that sometimes doesn't happpen until March. We like to have an outdoor winter picnic.
Hilary - it sounds as though you have the best of both worlds! And it's good to hear that you and your ex are good friends - that's something that's so rare!
dfLeah - sounds as though your Christmas will be very quiet. You'll have to come up with a new tradition.
My only tradition is to try to do the bare minimum with my family and especially my in-laws. The only one of them who I would willingly spend time with were we not related is my father, and at Christmas he's sort of a package deal with the rest of the annoying bunch.
Bunnygirl - the Bag Lady is sorry to hear that about your relatives. The Bag Lady's parents are both gone, and her siblings are spread far and wide, but she is lucky in that her in-laws are terrific, and easy to get along with, so she doesn't mind spending time with them.
Looks like I will be hosting Xmas eve in my tiny place this year - good thing we are a close family!
Only THREE WEEKS? I feel faint. *thunk*
Missicat! The Bag Lady hopes you didn't hurt yourself!!
The first year the Cowboy and the Bag Lady were together, we hosted Christmas for his family AND mine (only 2 on my side) -- there were some 23 bodies packed into his little mobile home. The Bag Lady set up tables that stretched all the way from the dining room wall to the front living room wall. And cooked a huge turkey plus all the trimmings in a kitchen with no counter space, where you couldn't open the fridge door and the oven door at the same time! It was a challenge, to say the least. But we had a great time, all packed in there like sardines.
Hope your Christmas eve turns out as well as that did! How many people will be there?
*rubs head* Whew, I am fine! I am expecting between 12 - 15. Your kitchen sounds like mine, two people can't both turn around at the same time. Add a clingy cat and you do have a recipes for trouble.
My solution is to add beer and wine to everything, which usually cheers up the grumpiest soul :-).
On Christmas day, we will all head to my sister's and her huge ol' house. Her living room = my condo. :-)
Glad to hear you're okay!
The Bag Lady was going to suggest the beer and wine solution - sounds like we are on the same page!!
Oh crap. Is it really only three weeks?
I totally enjoy the holiday--we start off at the Lobster's moms place Christmas eve, do Christmas morning at my mom's house, then Christmas dinner back at the Lobsters. Both our Mom's and our siblings live nearby.
It's the shopping before hand I hate.
Well, as Sis said, the siblings are spread far & wide, so I spend time with my urban family. It grew last year in spite of a death, by including a newly divorced friend and her kids. This year is at her house, I just hope they don't expect it to be at mine next year!
Crabby - sounds lovely - it's great that both your mothers are close by. The Bag Lady totally agrees about the shopping. The Cowboy's family does a gift exchange that is lots of fun, and saves on shopping woes.
Reb - gee, the Bag Lady doesn't understand why you wouldn't want to host Xmas in your teensy apartment!! ;)
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